On the occasion of the 22nd Subroto Mukerjee Seminar, the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Amar Preet Singh, implicitly acknowledged that India is lagging behind in technology, a shortcoming that translates into operational vulnerabilities.
He noted that technological requirements and development timelines are increasingly shaped by developments in India’s neighbourhood, pushing New Delhi into a reactive posture once associated with Pakistan. This admission comes in the aftermath of India’s mortifying defeat during Marka-e-Haq, an inflexion point in South Asia that has compelled India to closely monitor developments across the border and has further signalled a decisive victory for the Pakistan armed forces.
Addressing India’s developmental ambitions, the country’s Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi emphasised modernisation during his annual press conference, citing the need to move away from legacy platforms, adopt network-enabled multi-domain operations, enhance communication systems, and induct terrain-specific electronic warfare capabilities.
These priorities are a direct response to the PAF’s successful execution of synchronised space, electronic, and cyber capabilities, which established a lethal kill chain during Marka-e-Haq. The integrated battle network and network-centric approach, combined with a coherent and adaptive doctrine under the command of ACM Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, enabled the PAF to achieve clear supremacy over the IAF.
To project confidence, the IAF chief stressed the importance of strategic partnerships, repeatedly highlighting support for the ‘Make in India’ programme and the goal of achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047. This narrative was echoed by General Dwivedi, who suggested that an increased defence budget would reassure Indian industry. However, India’s pursuit of self-reliance continues to face setbacks, exposing cracks in its aviation industry.
The Tejas crash during the Dubai Airshow, which tarnished the IAF’s international image, stands as a notable example – particularly ironic given ACM Singh’s emphasis on soft power and image projection. In the aftermath of May 2025, India’s declining narrative and diplomatic standing has become evident, with New Delhi relying on falsehoods while Pakistan’s fact-based narrative gained international traction.
In an effort to bolster the IAF’s image, ACM Singh made unsubstantiated claims of strikes on multiple Pakistani bases, contradicting a key lesson India claims to have learned from Marka-e-Haq (Operation Sindoor): the need for credibility and consistency. In reality, the Indian strikes caused no significant damage to PAF infrastructure. Further undermining credibility, the IAF chief has repeatedly altered his claims about downing PAF aircraft, shifting figures from four to five to six without evidence.
In contrast, Pakistan provided detailed briefings to international media, supported by maps and visual evidence, substantiating its claim of downing seven Indian aircraft, including four Rafales, following Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos. Despite the IAF’s professional conduct, it was overwhelmed by the PAF’s superior flying skills, refined through specialised training for the J-10 platform, with the Rafale as the centre of gravity. These claims have been widely acknowledged, including by Indian commentators, and even referenced repeatedly by President Donald Trump.
ACM Singh has also argued that airpower is defined not merely by weaponry but by innovative thinking and effective use of resources. Yet the IAF fell short of this principle by fielding a heterogeneous mix of Russian, British, Israeli, French and indigenous platforms, resulting in compatibility and latency issues. In contrast, the PAF undertook smart inductions despite fiscal constraints, operationalising advanced combat and support capabilities, including the J-10C and PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles, in record time. This streamlined inventory and integrated systems gave the PAF a decisive edge.
India’s civil and military leadership remains entrenched in the mindset of Sindoor 1.0 and 2.0, a tendency also visible during the Republic Day tri-services tableau. Confusion persists as officials alternately describe Operation Sindoor as ongoing and concluded. Despite exaggerated and contradictory claims that run counter to the widely acknowledged outcomes of Marka-e-Haq and Bunyanum Marsoos, the Indian military leadership continues to craft narratives that are increasingly devoid of international credibility.
The writer is the president of the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Lahore. He can be reached at: [email protected]
